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Re: Will we ever be able to look beyond color??

I don't think it will be easy times getting past color, gender or sexual orientation despite all our back patting pride in our own acceptance of those who are different from us.

I expressly forbid the use of any of my posts anywhere outside of FG (with the exception of the incredibly witty 'get a room already' )posted recently.Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.

Re: Will we ever be able to look beyond color??

I don't think it will be easy times getting past color, gender or sexual orientation despite all our back patting pride in our own acceptance of those who are different from us.

Nor should it be necessary to get past it. The fact is that it's quite natural to discriminate when we are choosing the father or mother best suited for our offspring, the problem arises when we discriminate financially or otherwise. We have an obligation to respect every living person IMO.

As humans we have difficulty distinguishing what it is going on within us. Our genes are directing us to discriminate on one level and our brain on another, but since we refuse to acknowledge the fact that we are gene driven biologically, we become confused and make a mess of things by over analyzing, overreacting or over moralizing.

Re: Will we ever be able to look beyond color??

"the black vote" "the feminist vote" etc... these are political analyst lingo terms. The terms arose out of statistical studies performed by highly paid individuals who are good at assessing trends. So, I'd guess that when people stop voting or acting in categorical fashions then they'll stop referring to them that way. We also have the "farmer vote" and groups that aren't based on gender or race. We'll still be left with those.

For as long as a politician can promise to promote the well being of one group over those of another, or it is perceived that he will, you'll get group voting in elections.

As far as I can see, that will happen for as long as the setting of policy is out of the hands of those we elect to "represent" us. when you're not voting for their policies, their influence is all they have left.

Re: Will we ever be able to look beyond color??

"the black vote" "the feminist vote" etc... these are political analyst lingo terms. The terms arose out of statistical studies performed by highly paid individuals who are good at assessing trends. So, I'd guess that when people stop voting or acting in categorical fashions then they'll stop referring to them that way. We also have the "farmer vote" and groups that aren't based on gender or race. We'll still be left with those.

Originally Posted by Bryn Mawr

For as long as a politician can promise to promote the well being of one group over those of another, or it is perceived that he will, you'll get group voting in elections.

As far as I can see, that will happen for as long as the setting of policy is out of the hands of those we elect to "represent" us. when you're not voting for their policies, their influence is all they have left.

It's the grouping by color rather than an actual meaningful category that I object to. "Black" does not mean all black people, and "Latino" spans such a diverse and disparate group that it's meaningless to anyone interested in anything beyond the most superficial stereotypes.

Those stereotypes say that all Blacks and Latinos are uneducated, penniless, and dependent on government largess for survival. It ignores the facts that Americans of every hue and ethnic group occupy all strata of society, and that most uneducated, penniless, dependent people are white.

I would much rather hear them talk about going after the poor vote, the urban vote, or any number of other categories without relying on old, false, racist stereotypes.